Trunk-fastener



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,0. A. TAYLOR. Trunk Fastener,

No. 232,421. Patented Sept. 21,- I880.

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" MPETERS. PHOTQ-LWHGGMPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

CHARLES A. TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H.

SESSIONS, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

TRUNK-FAS'TEN'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,421, dated September 21, 1880.

Application filed May 17, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. TAYLOR, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Catches, of which the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of a trunk provided with catches embodying my invention 5 Fig. 2, a section in the plane of the line a; m,- Fig. 3, a section in the plane of the line 3 y, and Fig. 4. a front view of the releasing-plate detached.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention relates to that class of trunkca-tches intended to be employed in connection with or in addition to the lock usually arranged on the front of the trunk. Heretofore catches of this class have consisted, so far as I am aware, of several metallic parts, one serving as a catch and another as an engaging part for the catch, arranged, respectively, on the top or lid and on the body of the trunk; and in connection'with these two parts and their base plates or bearings 21. release device has also sometimes been employed, and springs have also been used to render the catch selflocking on the closing of the trunk, and also to aid the action of the release device.

The object of my invention is to avoid the use of special or individual springs in connection with the class of catches above referred to, as well as in connection with their release devices, and to that end I utilize thespring action or yielding tendency of the meeting edges of the lid and body of the trunk, either in connection with or independently of the yielding of the valance 5 and my invention consists in the means, substantially as hereinafter set forth, which I employ for the purpose of attaining the object I have in view.

A represents the body of the trunk, and B the lid. C is the valance.

D D are the catches, which are made of malleable iron or other inflexible or rigid metal, and applied to the front of the trunk, one on each side of the place usually occupied by the lock. Each catch consists of two plates, E

' and F. G G are release devices.

(N0 model.)

body of the trunk, and the plates F F rigidly to the lid. The release devices are connected pivotally or vibratingly to the plates E E.

H is a projection or lug extending outwardly or forwardly from the outer face of each plate E. The upper side of each lug H is beveled, inclining from the trunk downwardly and outwardly toward the end of the lug; but the under side of the lug is flat or extends horizontally from the trunk.

I is a slot or opening in each plate F F. The slotsor openings I I are adapted and arranged to receive the lugs H H when the trunk is closed, and this engagement of the lugs or catches H H with the plates F F holds the lid in its closed position.

In all ordinary trunks the meeting edges, both of the lid and of the body of the trunk, are somewhat yielding, and the valance is also yielding. Consequently, although the plates E and F and the catches H H are not flexible, and are rigidly applied to the meeting edges of the lid and body of the trunk, the plates E and F will have the same yielding movement that the meeting edges and the valance have. There-fore, when the trunk is being closed, the lower ends of the plates F F, on striking the upper or beveled faces of the lugs or catches H H, will move forward thereon as the lid is lowered, and by the time the trunk is closed the plates FF will snap into engagement with the catches H H and hold the lid down. The catches are therefore self-engaging, and this engagement will occur whether the plates F F be attached directly to the lid or to the valance. In the example shown they are represented as applied to the valance, as I deem that mode of attachment preferable in order to obtain the greater amount of spring action. It will be perceived, therefore, that I utilize the spring action or yielding tendency of the meeting edges of the lid and body of the trunk in order to make the catches D D self-engaging, and that by so doing I render it unnea essary to employ other springs for that purpose, although the catches aremade of inflexible metal. a

The release devices G G consist of metallic pieces, from opposite corners of which project spindles or pintles a a, which extend into socII- ets made to receive them in the plates .E E.

' bolts.

When the trunk is closed the pieces G G lie parallel, or nearly parallel, to the front of the trunk, and a portion of each lies underneath the lower end of each plate F, respectively, as indicated at a a, which underlying parts are in the form of shoulders, while the remaining part proj ectslaterally suffieientl y to be grasped for the purpose of turning these plates so that the shoulders a a will stand out from the trunk and lift or push the plates F F from their engagement with the catches or lugs H H. These laterally-extending parts of the release devices are slightly arched, as shown at a a, so as to ward off accidental blows which might otherwise tend to unlock or release the That edge of the release-plate in contact with the body of the trunk is also slightly arched, by preference, so that the plates may be raised with facility.

It will be perceived that the release devices are eccentric and act directly on the catches so that by raising the release devices they will force the catches from their engagement, or push the meeting edges of the lid and body of the trunk so far apart that the catches will be unfastened.

It will also be perceived that the release devices as well as the catches operate without the aid of any special or individual spring or springs, the sprin g action or yielding tendency of the meeting edges of the lid and body of the trunk being utilized in aid of the release devices and catches.

It will also be observed that the catches and the release devices are all arranged externally on the face of the trunk, and that the release devices are easily accessible and adapted to be operated by hand. I

I am aware that boxes have heretofore been provided with rigid hooks or catches rigidly attached to thelids of the boxes, and that these hooks entered and engaged the bodies of the boxes, and that the boxes could be opened by springing in their fronts until the catches were released; butIdo not here intend to claim such.

I am also aware that rigid metallic plates, forming, in part, a trunk-catch, have heretofore been rigidly applied to the outside of the front of a trunk, and arranged at or near the meeting edges of the lid and body. respectively, of the trunk; but such plates have not heretofore been adapted, so far as I am aware, to be engaged with and released from each other by the inward and outward yielding movement of the parts to which they were applied, and therefore I do not here intend to claim the same broadly.

I am also aware that eccentric release devices have heretofore been employed in connection with spring-catches used as trunk-fastenings; but I do not here intend to claim fasteuings or catches of that class; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A trunk catch or fastening consisting of the combination of rigid plates E and F, adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from each other alternately when moved in reverse direction in a line at, or nearly at, right angles to their faces, and of an eccentric release device turning in bearings in one of the said plates, and having its eccentric arranged to bear against the other of the said plates, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of the rigid plates E and I adapted, substantially as described, to be engaged with and disengaged from each other alternately when moved in reverse directions in a line at, or nearly at, right angles to their faces, and both rigidly applied to the outside of a trunk and at or near the meeting edges of the lid and body thereof, respectively, and the eccentric release device G, turning in bearings in one of the said plates, and having its eccentric portion arranged between them and a portion arranged for access by hand, substantially as specified, for the purpose of thereby utilizing the spring aetion of the said meeting edges, and so avoiding the use of other or special springs.

CHARLES A. TAYLOR. Witnesses;

F. F. WARNER, W. S. BAKER. 

